Tractor transmission control



b 4 c. P. PINARDI ETAL 3 1 moron Tmsussmgz comraor. I

Filed Jan. 18; 1945 ,s sheets-sna 2 Feb. 25, 1947. c. P. PINARDI 17m.2,415,640

7 mcmoa numsuxsslqu connoi- Filed Jan. 13, 1945 s sheets-sheet 3 IN VENTORD B (JAM D C? Q 6. I @y:

Patented Feb. 25, 11 947 uNiT-Eo STATE TRACTOR TRANSMISSION CONTROLCharles P,. Pinardi, Dear-born, and Harold Brock, Detroit, Mich.,assignors to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation ofDelaware Application January is, 1945, Serial No. 513,452

Claims. (01. 14-484) This invention relates to a transmission andcontrol for automotive vehicles; and, more particularly, to a steeringcolumn gearshift control adapted for transmissions having four or moreforward speeds.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to devise a steeringcolumn gearshift control adaptable for use on agricultural tractors andthe like which will be adapted to the rigorous service required in suchvehicles. Since most tractors are built around a tubular member whichserves both as the frame and as the enclosurefor the transmission.propeller shaft, differentialand axle, the gearshift constructions whichare adapted to passenger automobiles'or trucks having a conventionalframe and chassis, are not entirely suitable. conventional three forwardspeeds used in passenger automobiles are insuflicient to obtain maximumperformance from a tractor, the control must be adaptable to theoperation of transmissions having at least four forward speeds as wellas a reverse. Because of the space restriction imposed-by the relativelynarrow tubular frame, the width of the control mechanism, including thescope of its necessary movement, must be held Still another object isthat, since the Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of atractor employing the present invention.

Figure 2 is a similar elevation on an enlarged scale showing,particularly, the association between the transmission and the steeringcolumn 1 of the transmission shift bars to the controlling mechanism.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the distant side of the pedestal as shown inFigure 2.

at a minimum throughout. Therefore, the conventional controls heretoforeused which have laterally disposed bell cranks and similar apparatus areunavailablefor tractor use. Another object of the invention is toprovide a steering column gearshift to-not only withstand the extremelyhard service met with on agricultural tractors but which, in addition,will be readily accessible and so constructed as to be readily re- Withthese and other objects in view, the invention consists in thearrangement, construction and'combination of the various parts of theimproved device, as described in the specification, claimed in theclaims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 5-5 onFigure 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the control rod taken asindicated by the line 6-6 on Figure 2.

Referring first to Figure 1, It] indicates generally a tractor of thewell-known Ford type having a motor I l and a relatively narrow tubularframe l2 extending rearwardly therefrom and enclosing the transmissionshown generally at I3, the differential M, the main drive [5, the powertake-off unit It and the hydraulic control i1.

Certain of the constructional details of this machine are described atlength in the copending application forPqwer take-off drive unit, SerialNumber 570,292, filed December 29, 1944, by H. L. Brook and C. P.Pinardi, and Power take-off drive for tractors, Serial Number 570,293,filed December 29, 1944, by H. L. Brock et a1. It is suflicient for thepurposes of this application to note that two independent drives areoperated from the engine ll, one of which is represented by the take-offdrive shaft [8, which is splined at its forward end directly to thecrankshaft of the engine I l and the other by the tube l9 which engagesthe engine ll through the medium of the conventional clutch 20. Thedriving shaft 22 of the transmission l3 drivingly engages the rear endof the tube I9 and is itself tubular in form to permit the independentrotation of the power main drive gears 30 secured to the independent.

axles 32 mounting the wheels 33.

The requisite torque conversion is obtained in the transmission by theintegrally formed pinions i shaft 22 the gearing '41 to furnish uhydraulic control operating cylinder 48 (the piston not being shown)which in turn' operates, a

through the shaft. 48, the implement operating inggears indicated at 38,38, 46 and 4|. The first and second gears 38 and 38 are integrallyformedon the hub 43, which is slidable on the splines 'of the driven shaft 23.The third speed is effected by engaging the hub 44, which is alsoslidable. I on the splines of driven shaft 23,

with the gear 46 which is keyed to the shaft 23. The fourth speed isobtained by moving the hub 44' rearinto engagement with the wardly tobring gear pinion 31. A third shaft lying behind the driveidler which isindicated in Figure 3 at 45 slidably mounted thereon and this may beengaged in the usual manner between the low-speedp-pinion and.

low-speed .gear. to effect reverseope'rationof the driven shaft 23.

A pump 46 is driven from the tube I8 through operating 'fluidlto the Asis customary in this type cross shaft 56. V

hydraulic actuator of tractor, the operation of the is controlled by thespring resistance 52 which is 1 attached, through suitable linkage notshown, to the draft implement.

The power-take-ofl. unit I6 comprises a trans? verse shaft 58 drivinglyconnected with a belt pulley which is operatedthrough the beveledgearing 54 and the clutch 55 by, the take-off drive shaft I8. It alsocomprises a longitudinal'takeoff shaft 56 which is driven through thegearing 51 and the clutch 55 by the take-off drive shaft I6. Suitableshields 58 and 58 are provided as more fully described in theabove-noted copending applications.

Reference is now made to the steering column assembly. This comprises asteering wheel 66 on the steering shaft 64 rotatably supported in thecolumn 62 which terminates in an enlarged housing 63 at its lower endbolted to'the frame I2 and enclosing a steering gear .of the generaltype shown in United States Letters Patent 2,247,-

i 725. The steering shaft 64 is rotatablysupported therein. The housing63 also includes a substantially rectangular box section 65 shown inplan view at- Figure and in elevation at Figure 6 and having an opening66 on the distant vertical side. An abutment 61 is secured adjacent thetop of the column 62 mounting a pivot pin 68 servingas a fulcrum for theinner end of the gearshift lever 68 and as the upper guide for thegearshift control rod 16. This rod is fixedly secured to the sleeve 12in which the lever 68 is rotatably mounted as by the ball joint 13offset from the axis of rod 16. Thus, the rod 16 may be reciprocatedupwardly or downwardly by similar movement of the lever 68 or rotated inresponse to rotation of the lever. This mechanism by means of which bothrotary and vertical motion are imparted to of the rod 16 is slidablyjournaled in the recess 14 forming a downward extension of the box 65and opposing springs 15 and 16 having a suitably varied rate and areprovided to maintain the rod 16 and its associated lever 68 in a' medianor neutral osition. The upper collar 11 is pinned is not visible, but itcarries the reversing I g to the rod 16 within the box 65 and isintegrally (formed with an arm- 86 extending through the opening 66 (asis best seen'in Figure 5), terminating in the finger 18 which is engagedin the 5 slot 81 of the modified H plate 18. An elongated hole 82 isformed in the arm 86 and receives the cranked end '83 of the link 84'which, therefore, transmits the rotational movements of the rod 16. Alower collar 85 is loosely mountedon the and pin 86 beneath. This lowercollar is formed at the cranked end 81 of the link 88, which serves trolrod 16. It will thus be apparent that vertical movement of the lever 68is reflected in relative rotation of the link 86 about the pivot fulcrum88 which is mounted on the tractor frame I2; and that rotationalmovement of the lever 68, relative to the column 62, is reflected inlongitudinal reciprocation of the link 84. 7

Both links 84 and 68 are enclosed within a conduit 86 formed of twostampings of relatively light gage sheet metal extending obliquely fromthe box 65 to the tractor frame I2 and bolted about the opening 82 inthe top thereof. The stamping 83 forming the near side of the conduit 86in Figure 2 has an opening 8| corresponding to the opening 66 in the boxsection. Thestamp- 3 ing 84 forming'thedistant side also has an openingH of somewhat smaller extent and over this ,is bolted the H plate 18referred to above. The bolt holes 86 through which the H plate isattached to the stamping 84 permit some play to facilitate adjustment ofthe plate 18 and thereby to regulate the movement of the shiftingmechanism as reflected in the path followed by the finger 18. A cover 86is bolted over the H plate 18 as a further protection. It will beapparent that by removal of the cover 86 and the H plate 18, the entirelower portion of the steering column control is readily available foradjustment or.-re-' with its respective notches I63, I64 and I65, whichare aligned transversely of the tractor when in neutral position asindicated in Figure 3. An operating lever I66 has a ball head I61universallyeo mounted in thesocket I68 secured to the tractor frame i2;and a small ball I68 at its foot adapted to be engaged selectively inthe notches I63, I64

or I to operate the respective forks. A pin I II6 traverses the ballhead I61 and is engaged by 85 the fork end H2 (shown in dotted line inFigure 2 and in section in Figure '3) 'of the link 88. An intermediateextension II3 on-the lever I66 is pivotally connected with'the end ofthe link 84 at III. l

The operation of the gear selector is believed to be quite clear.Starting at the neutral position shown, the operating lever I66 is inthe intermediate or reverse notch- I63 and rotation of tend the link 84pivoting the-operating lever I66 rod 16, although .its' verticalmovement is re-' strictedby the upper collar 11, and the washer totranslate the-vertical reciprocations of the conof Figure 2 in which thetransmission control I6I operating the first the gearshift lever 68 inthe proper sense will ex.-'

the link 84 pivoting the operating lever I08 and H moving the fork llllto effect the desired gear engagement. Corresponding routines arefollowed for each of the forward speeds. It will be recognized thatsuitable interlocking means must be operable between the various slidebars to prevent multiple operation of the forks and to restrict theshifting routine to that desired for normal operation. These may followconventional practice as exemplified in the ordinary types oftransmissions.

The construction is completed, as shown in Figure 1, by a stamped cowlH5, which also serves as an instrument panel and as the upper supportfor the steering column and control rod. This extends forwardly at H8as'the fuel tank and engine hood and downwardly at ill to en close thesteering column. An opening H8 is provided around the housing 63, thoughthis is covered in by the relatively narrow hood H9. The lateralcompactness of the device may be judged from the thickness of theconduit required,

as shown in Figure 5; and it will be apparent.

that the lateral amplitude of movement of the various parts ismaintained at a minimum, as will be seen in Figure 3. particularlyapplicable for use on tractors where space is limited, as opposed tocurrent automotive practice in which substantially the entire distancebetween the sills of the frame is available for installation andoperation. ,Another advantage of the present embodiment is that theoperating mechanism, while fully protected, is readily available and isnot enclosed in the tubu- .1ar frame of the tractor, which is comparableto the construction used in automotive work. It will further be notedthat only a, singlecontrol tube is required to obtain the five positionsof active transmission engagement required in the present embodiment andthat by increasing the amplitude of travel of the link andcorrespondingly in creasing the number of notches and forks, an evenlarger number of selectiveiposig tions may be obtained with the samebasic apparatus. Thus the device is most valuable for use in heavy-dutyequipment in which graduated torque control is essential.

Some changes may be made in the apparatus described, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, and it is the intention to cover bythe claims such changes as may reasonably'be included within .the scopethereof.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a tractor transmission control, a tractorframe, a steering columnrigidly secured to said frame, a housing associated with said steeringcolumn, a gearshift rod extending along said column and being slidablyand rotatably supv ported thereon, means at the upperend thereof toreciprocate and to rotate said rod, means noron, rotation of said rod,asecond extension rotatably mounted on said rod adjacent said firstThus, the device is extension, a fulcrum about which said secondextension is rotatable on reciprocation of said rod,

a transmission operating lever. suspended by a v joint for universalmovement and. having its lower endselectively engaging one of aplurality of transmissionoperating forks, said second extension engagingsaid operating lever adjacent said joint to rotate said operating levertransversely into selective engagementwith said forks, said firstextension engaging said operating lever at a point distant from saidjoint to move said operating lever longitudinally toactuate the fork soselected.

2. In a tractor transmission control, a tractor frame, a steering columnrigidly secured to said frame, a housing associated with said steeringcolumn, a gearshift rod extending along said col umn and being slidablyand rotatably supported thereon, means at the upper end thereof toreciprocate and to rotate said rod, resilient means normally urging saidrod to a median position corresponding to neutral position of thetractor transmission, an extension secured adjacent the lower, end ofsaid rod to be reciprocated thereby on rotation of said rod, a secondextension ro-' tatably mounted on said rod adjacent said first a fingerformed on one of said extensions engaging the opening in said H plate tolimit the operation of said extension.

3. In a tractor transmission control, a tractor frame, a steering columnrigidly secured to said frame, a housing associated with said steeringcolumn, a, gearshift rod extending along said column'and being slidablyand rotatably supported thereon, means at the upper end thereof toreciprocate and to rotate said rod, resilient means normally urging saidrod to a median position corresponding to neutral position of thetractor transmission, 'an extension secured adjacent the lower end ofsaid rod to be reciprocated thereby on rotation-of said rod, a secondextension rotatablyiiountedor said rod adjacent said first extension, afulcrumabout which said second extensionis rotatable on reciprocation ofsaid rod, atransmission operating lever suspended by a'ball joint foruniversal movement and having its lower end'selectively engaging one ofa plurality of transmission operating forks, two of said forkscontrolling the forward speeds of said transmission and the third saidfork controlling a reverse speed of said transmission, said secondextension engaging said operating lever adjac'ent said ball joint torotate said operating lever transversely into selective engagement withsaid forks, said first extension engaging said operating lever at apoint distant from said ball joint to rotate said operating leverlongitudinally to actuate the fork so selected, and regulating meansadjacent the lower portion of said rod to restrict the operation thereofto desired successive positions of engagement.

4. In a tractor transmission control, a tractor frame, a steering columnrigidly secured to said extending along said column and being slidablyand rotatably supported thereon; means at the upper end thereof toreciprocate and to rotate said rod, resilient means normally urging saidrod to a median position correspondingto neutral 1 position of thetractor transmission, an extension. secured adjacent the lower end ofsaid rod to be reciprocated thereby on rotation of said rod, a

second'extension rotatably mounted on said rod adjacent said firstextension, a fulcrum about which said second extension is rotatable onre-.' ciprocation of said rod, a transmission operating lever suspendedby a ball joint for universal movement and having its lower endselectively engagengaging saidpin eccentrically with respect tosaidballfijoint' to rotate said operating lever. l transversely intoselective engagement with said lframe, a. housing associated with saidsteering column spaced above said frame, a gearshift rod sociated withsaid steering column above said tractor frame, a gearshift rodextendingalong' said column and being slidably and rotatably supportedthereon with respect thereto, means at the upper end thereof toreciprocate and to rotate said rod, resilient means within said hous- Iing normally urging said rod to a median position corresponding toneutral position of the tractor transmission, a' collar rigidly securedto saidrod adjacent at the bottom thereof and extending from saidhousing, a second collar rotatably sup- 1 ing one of a plurality oftransmission operating forks, a pin extending transversely from saidball joint, said second extension terminating in a fork ported on saidrod" adapted to be reciprocated therewith, a conduit associated withsaid housing and extending therefrom to said tractor frame, a linkwithin said conduit engaging said extension, a second linkwithin saidconduit rigidly connected with said second collar, a fulcrum on saidtractor frame for said second link whereby reciprocation of said r'odprovides limited. rotation of said link, both of said links being insubstantiallythe same vertical plane, a transmission operating leversuspended from said tractor forks, saidfirst extension engaging saidoperat--[ 'ing lever at a point distant from said ball joint to rotatesaid operating lever longitudinally to actuate the fork soselected, twoof said forks perating the-forward speed gears of said transmission and.a third fork operating a reverse j.speed gear of said transmission.

' 5. In a tractor transmission control, a tractor rframe, a steeringcolumn rigidly secured to said frame, a housing associated with saidsteering column above said frame, a gearshift rod extending along saidcolumn and being" slidably and rotatably supported thereon, means at theupper end thereof to reciprocate and to rotate said rod tween saidhousing andthe interior of said tractor frame, said conduit. includingan H plate adjacent to said housing, a finger on one said extensionengaging the slot in said H plate to rei strict the routine'of movementof said rod, a

fulcrum on said tractor frame about which said said rod, 3,transmission-operating lever suspended from a connection on said framepermitting universal movement thereof and having its lower j endselectively. engaging one of a plurality of 1 transmission operatingforks, said second extenf sion engaging said operating levereccentrically lever transversely into selective engagement with saidforks, said first extension engaging said opperating lever at a pointdistant from'said joint to rotate said operating lever longitudinallyvto actuate the fork so selected, the forks of said transmission engagedby said operating lever at a the extreme positions of said rodcontrolling the second extension is rotatable on reciprocation 'of iadjacent said connection to rotate said operating forward speeds of saidtransmission and thefork engaged by said'operating lever when adjacentth median position controlling a reverse speed of said transmission.

6. In a tractor transmission control, a substantially tubular tractorframe, a steering column rigidly secured to said frame, a housingasframe, said second link engaging said operating lever eccentricallylaterally to impart transverse movement thereto, said first linkengaging said operating lever eccentrically vertically to impart.longitudinal movement thereto, said operating leverengaging one of aplurality of transmission control forks mounted on vertically staggeredtransmission slide b'ars, said operating lever with said rod in itsextreme position engaging the forks controlling the forward speeds ofsaid transmission and when said rod is adjacent the median positionengaging the fork controlling a, reverse speed of said transmission.

7. In a tractor transmission control, a substantially tubular tractorframe, asteering column rigidlysecured to said frame, a housingassociated with said steering column above said frame, a chamber in saidhousing closed with respect to said steering column, a gearshift rodextending along said column and being slidably and rotatably supportedthereon and terminating within said chamber, means at the upper end ofsaid'rod to reciprocate and to rotate said rod with respect to saidsteering-column, means within' said chamber normally maintaining saidred at a median position corresponding to neutral position of thetractor transmission, a collar rigidly secured to said rod adjacent thelower end thereof and hav ing an extension projecting laterally fromsaid chamber, a finger at the end of said extension, a conduitamxed toone side of said chamber and leading to the top of said tractor frame,an H plate forming a part. of said conduit and adapted to engage thefinger on said extension, a slot formedin said extension, a link engagedin said slot and leading to said conduit through the interior of saidtractor frame, a second collar rotatably supported on said red. butsecured for reciprocation therewith having a link formed integrally.therewith and extending from said chamber. through said conduit to theinterior of said tractor frame, a tractor transmission within saidframe, a transmission operating lever univers'ally suspended from saidtractor frame, said V first link engaging said operating levereccentrically' vertically of said universal joint to impart longitudinalmovement to the lower end of said operatinglever, said second linkengaging said operating lever eccentrically' laterallyof said uni-. pversal joint to impart transverse movementto said operating lever onreciprocation of said rod,

a plurality'of vertically staggered slide bars in said transmission,transmission operating forks

